Analysis of Inflexibility and Eating Disorders According to the Theory of Control by Justifications and Immediate...

This study investigated whether vegetarian and non-vegetarian university students exhibit distinct responses to questionnaires assessing symptoms of eating disorders and inflexibility to change.

Participants completed a demographic questionnaire, the Disordered Eating Attitudes Scale, and the Behavioral Inflexibility Scale. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics, including relative risk (RR), 95% confidence intervals (95% CI), and p-values.

Results indicated that vegetarian students presented a higher risk of disturbed eating attitudes compared to omnivores (RR = 1.17; 95% CI = 0.53-2.54; p = 0.69), though this difference was not statistically significant. In contrast, female students presented a significantly higher risk of disturbed eating attitudes than male students (RR = 2.72; 95% CI = 1.07-6.8; p = 0.02). No statistically significant differences were observed for race/ethnicity, or field of study in relation to disturbed eating attitudes. Regarding behavioral inflexibility, no significant differences were found between vegetarians and omnivores (RR = 1.74; 95% CI = 0.60-4.98; p = 0.29) or between female and male students (RR = 1.16; 95% CI = 0.42-3.33; p = 0.78).

Additionally, participants characterized by higher behavioral inflexibility tended to exhibit more disturbed eating attitudes, highlighting the association between behavioral rigidity and eating-related patterns. The results are analyzed according to the TJC.